Fastener device



Jan. 31, 1967 R. Av MEYER 3,301,296

FASTENER DEVICE Filed Feb. 24, 1964 NTOR.

YER

INVE ROBERT A. ME

xmx xx s & mm

' Affomvevs United States Patent Ofiice 3,301,296 FASTENER DEVICE Robert A. Meyer, West Bend, Wis., assignor to Amity Leather Products Co., West Bend, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Feb. 24, 1964. Ser. No. 346,609 Claims. ((11. 150-39) This invention relates to improvements in fastener devices, and it relates more particularly to an improved adjustable fastener device for leather or plastic accessories such as billfolds, billfold inserts, identification card containers, purses and the like.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable fastener device for detachably joining a first and a second wall of a container formed of a flexible material such as leather or plastic whereby the fastener device is adapted to maintain a container or the like in an adjusted closed condition, and whereby the container may be readily opened when the fastener device is unfastened.

Numerous metallic snap fastener devices are provided for billfolds, card containers and the like whereby the fastener device is unfastened to allow the opening of a folded billfold, billfold insert, card container or the like. Such billfol-ds and containers are generally made of leather or plastic whereby one part of a fastener device is secured to one wall of a container, and another part of the fastener device is secured to another wall of the container so that the walls when joined by the two parts constituting the fastener device result in a closed or fastened condition of the container.

However, there is a tendency in billfolds, billfold inserts, card containers, and the like for the space between the walls to become filled by the addition of identification cards and the like to such an extent that it becomes dificult for one part of the fastener device to join or attach to the other part of the fastener device. If the fastener device is fastened by force the material forming the walls of the container is unduly stressed or the fastener device itself may wear excessively and become inoperative. Also there is a possibility of damage or distortion of any identification cards, for example, that are interposed between the walls of the container to be closed.

It is an advantage to provide an adjustable fastener device for a billfold, card container or the like whereby the fastener device may be readily fastened to close the container whether there is a minimum or maximum number of cards, for example, interposed between the walls of a card container. The adjustable fastener device of the invention facilitates the fastening closure of a billfold insert, card container or the like without allowing the walls or the fastener device to be unduly stressed or otherwise damaged.

It is, therefore, another object of this invention to provide an improved fastener device that overcomes the aforesaid objections and disadvantages of prior fastener devices.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an adjustable fastener device for facilitating closure of the walls of a container such as a billfold, billfold insert, card container, purse, or the like.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved means for securing a female member portion of a snap fastener device to a wall of a billfold, card container or the like.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved fastener device having a female gripping part formed from a resilient material and having an elongated opening therein for adjustably receiving the button or male part of the fastener in a manner whereby relative longitudinal movement between the gripping part and 3,301,296? Patented Jan. 31, 1967 the male part of the fastener device is effectively resisted.

It is another object of this invention to provide a snap or button receiving member of resilient plastic material having an elongated opening for adjustably receiving the snap or button for the closure of a billfold, billfold insert, card case, or other container to compensate for the amount or number of items carried within said container or the like.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the features constituting the present invention and of the mode of constructing fastener devices embodying the improvements may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a billfold insert or card container embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional elevational view similar to that of FIGURE 2 showing the fastener device of FIGURE 1 in a closed condition;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective exploded view of the components constituting one part of the fastener device of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged plan view of a modification of one of the components shown in FIGURE 4.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as being especially advantageously embodied in leather or plastic products of a certain type, it is not desired or intended to thereby unnecessarily limit or restrict the invention by reason of such embodiment as the improvements may be used to advantage on a variety of walled flexible containers or the like fabricated of cloth, plastic or other materials. It is also contemplated that certain descriptive terminology used herein shall be given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the disclosure.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURE 1 discloses the invention as being embodied in a billfold insert or identification card container 10 formed of leather, plastic or other sheet material. The container 10 comprises a wall 11 joined as by a means 12 to another wall 13. The wall 13 includes a container closure flap 14 that is adapted to close overa portion of wall 11. Interposed between the walls 11 and 13 are a plurality of card container envelopes 15 that are ordinarily formed from transparent plastic sheet material. The envelopes 15 are ordinarily detachably secured to means 12 in such manner as card carrying capacity for the billfold. Thus, it can be seen that additional cards, card envelopes, or billfold portions may cause the distance between the wall 11 and 13 of the container 10 to vary so that the flap 14 closes over a portion of wall 11 a different amount dependent upon the distance between the container walls.

With reference to FIGURE 1, as the number of cards placed between the walls 11 and 13 is increased, the amount of overlap of flap 14 with respect to wall 11 will decrease. Consequently, a male fastener part 16 secured to the flap 14 will seek a variety of contact points relative 3 to wall '11 dependent upon the distance A between the walls.

In the above regard the fastener part 16 is adapted to engage a female fastener part 17 that is secured to wall 11, in the preferred embodiment, by a thin metal fastener securing member 18. The fastener part 17 is provided with a longitudinal opening 19 to allow the fastener part 16 carried by flap 14 to seek fastening engagement along any portion of the opening 19 and thereby close the container 10. As the distance A varies between the walls 11 and '13 by reason of the insertion of additional cards or the like, the fastener part 16 will ordinarily be engaged by fastener part 17 at a portion of opening 19 to effectuate efiicient and snug closure of the container 10. Thus, an adjustable fastening device is provided for the container 10.

As shown in the preferred embodiment, the retainer 18 is formed of thin sheet metal stamped to provide a window opening 20 surrounded by a frame 21. In turn, the fastener part 17 fabricate-d of a suitable resilient material is formed with a radiating flange 23 snugly receivable within the frame 21 of the retainer 18. This female fastener assembly 17, 18 must then be secured or attached to the wall 11 at a predetermined location to receive part 16 for effecting closure of the container 10.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 2 wherein the wall 11 is shown having two layers of flexible sheet material 11a, 11b. An aperture or opening 25 is provided in the outer sheet 11a to receive the thin metal fastener retainer 18 so that the radiating flange 22 thereof is held captive between the layers 11a, 11b. With the fastener part 17 inserted within member 18, as hereinabove described, the member 18 together With the slotted fastener part 17 is thereby effectively retained between the layers 1 1a and 11b (FIGURE 2). Thus, the fastener part 17 having the longitudinal opening 19 therein is adapted engagea bly receive fastener part 16 carried by the flap 14 for adjustable closure of the container 10.

The female fastener part 17 of the preferred embodiment, is constructed of a durable resilient plastic material that will withstand repeated fastening operations and of such resilience as will permit deformation thereof to receive the fastener part 16 while gripping the same firmly within opening 19 during closure to resist displacement, the body 17 being furthermore immediately returnable to its normal condition when part 1-6 is removed from the part 17. It has been found that the resilient material of part 17 may be nylon, polypropylene, or materials of a similar nature having the desired resilient characteristic. Specifically, the resilient material of fastener part 17 pinches and grips the fastener part 1-6 at any desired position along opening 19. In other words, the part 16 is gripped by the co-action of the resilient jaws 19a of the opening 19 to restrain any longitudinal movement along fastener part 17. When it is desired to remove part 16 from part 17, the flap 14 is merely raised or lifted from wall 11 to remove the fastener part 16 from the opening 18 against the resistance of the jaws 19a.

The gripping and holding action is apparent from a reference to FIGURE 2 and FIGURE 3, wherein the normal condition of the edges 19a is exemplified in FIG- URE 2 and the gripping condition is shown in FIGURE 3. As is apparent, the distance between edges 19a is slightly less than the diameter of part 16 at its reduced collar portion 16a to enable the fastener part 17 to grip the part .16 by the edges 19a. Such gripping by the resilient plastic material of part 17 at the edges 19a does not result in a permanent set of the resilient material, but rather the edges to their initial condition upon removal of part 16 #by reason of the resiliency of the material as shown in FIGURE 2. Repeated engagements of parts 16 and 17 will continue to result in an effective and positive fastening relationship between fastener parts 16 and 17 regardless of where part .16 enters the slot 19 for engagement by edges 19a.

In FIGURE 5, a modification of a resilient plastic fastener part 30 is shown as being provided wvith an opening 32 having serrated edges 31. The part 30 is adapted to be held by a fastener retaining member 18, as hereinabove described, at a location on a wall 11 whereby a fastener part 16 may engage and be gripped by edges 31. The serrated edges 31 form a series of indentations that aid in preventing the part 16 from moving longitudinally along th eopening 32 when the part 16 is grippingly engaged by edges 31 of fastener part 36.

Thus, an improved fastening device has been disclosed and described by means of which a bill fold insert, cardcontainer or the like formed of flexible walls may be closed by engagement of a fastener part at a variety of postions along a longitudinal opening of a fastener part formed of resilient plastic material so that the attachment or engagement of the fastener parts constitute an adjustable fastener device for a container or the like.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture comprising, a flexible container having walls formed of readily deformable but durable sheet material, one of said walls having a portion extending beyond and fol-dable over an adjacent wall to provide a closure flap and said adjacent wall being provided with an aperture, a male fastener part secured to said closure flap and having a head defined by a reduced neck portion projecting toward the aperture in said adjacent wall when said closure flap is folded thereover, a thin sheet metal plate having a raised portion provided with an elongated opening and surrounded by an integral outwardly extending flange, the raised portion of said plate corresponding in shape and size to the aperture in said adjacent wall and said plate being positioned with the flat flange thereof seated directly against the inner surface of said adjacent well with the raised portion of said plate extending outwardly through the aperture in said adjacent wall, and a resilient female fastener part of substantial thickness having a base portion confined within the raised portion of said plate and having a reduced portion corresponding in shape and size to and extending outwardly through the elongated opening in said plate, said female fastener part having a recess of greater width and depth than the diameter of the head of said male fastener part, the reduced outwardly extending portion of said female fastener part being formed with an integral lip overhanging the recess therein to provide at least one access opening for removaibly receiving the head of said male fastener part, the access opening formed by the lip being of less width than the diameter of the head of said male fastener part.

2. An article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the "base portion of the resilient female fastener part substantially fills the interior of the raised portion of the plate, and a thin flexible backing sheet is provided which entirely overlies the base of said female fastener part and the outwardly extending flange of said plate and is secured to the surface of the wall outwardly beyond the marginal edge of said plate flange.

3. An article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the resilient female fastener part is provided with an outwardly open continuous groove between the base portion and the reduced portion thereof for receiving the marginal edge of the raised portion of the plate which defines the elongated opening in said plate.

4. An article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the lip formed on the resilient female fastener part and which overhangs the recess in said female fastener part to provide the access opening for the male fastener part is elongated and is provided with a continuous series of serrations for resisting displacement of the male fastener part upon insertion of the head thereof within the access opening.

5 5. An article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the access opening formed by the integral overhanging lip of the female member is also of less width than the diameter of the reduced neck portion of the male fastener part.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 487,822 12/1892 Booth et a1 24-224 1,788,418 1/1931 Andrews 22977 6/1937 Reed 24-206 4/1962 Burniski 150-39 4/ 1963 Shears 24-216 9/1966 Shears 24217 FOREIGN PATENTS 8/ 1958 Italy. 10/ 1912 Switzerland.

10 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING, A FLEXIBLE CONTAINER HAVING WALLS FORMED OF READILY DEFORMABLE BUT DURABLE SHEET MATERIAL, ONE OF SAID WALLS HAVING A PORTION EXTENDING BEYOND AND FOLDABLE OVER AN ADJACENT WALL TO PROVIDE A CLOSURE FLAP AND SAID ADJACENT WALL BEING PROVIDED WITH AN APERTURE, A MALE FASTENER PART SECURED TO SAID CLOSURE FLAP AND HAVING A HEAD DEFINED BY A REDUCED NECK PORTION PROJECTING TOWARD THE APERTURE IN SAID ADJACENT WALL WHEN SAID CLOSURE FLAP IS FOLDED THEREOVER, A THIN SHEET METAL PLATE HAVING A RAISED PORTION PROVIDED WITH AN ELONGATED OPENING AND SURROUNDED BY AN INTEGRAL OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE, THE RAISED PORTION OF SAID PLATE CORRESPONDING IN SHAPE AND SIZE TO THE APERTURE IN SAID ADJACENT WALL AND SAID PLATE BEING POSITIONED WITH THE FLAT FLANGE THEREOF SEATED DIRECTLY AGAINST THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID ADJACENT WALL WITH THE RAISED PORTION OF SAID PLATE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THROUGH THE APERTURE IN SAID ADJACENT WALL, AND A RESILIENT FEMALE FASTENER PART OF SUBSTANTIAL THICKNESS HAVING A BASE PORTION CONFINED WITHIN THE RAISED PORTION OF SAID PLATE AND HAVING A REDUCED PORTION CORRESPONDING IN SHAPE AND SIZE TO AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THROUGH THE ELONGATED OPENING IN SAID PLATE, SAID FEMALE FASTENER PART HAVING A RECESS OF GREATER WIDTH AND DEPTH THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE HEAD OF SAID MALE FASTENER PART, THE REDUCED OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION OF SAID FEMALE FASTENER PART BEING FORMED WITH AN INTEGRAL LIP OVERHANGING THE RECESS THEREIN TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE ACCESS OPENING FOR REMOVABLY RECEIVING THE HEAD OF SAID MALE FASTENER PART, THE ACCESS OPENING FORMED BY THE LIP BEING OF LESS WIDTH THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE HEAD OF SAID MALE FASTENER PART. 